Receiver for reductant tank

ABSTRACT

A receiver is disclosed. The receiver includes a housing. The housing defines a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are positioned at opposing ends of the housing. The receiver also includes a piston. The piston includes a head portion positioned at the fluid inlet. The piston also includes a rod portion. The rod portion extends from the head portion towards the fluid outlet. The receiver further includes a plate positioned within the housing and surrounding the rod portion. The plate includes through holes provided therein. The receiver includes a spring mounted on the rod portion. The spring is configured to bias a movement of the piston with respect to the housing. Further, the plate and the head portion of the piston define an adjustable volume therebetween. The volume is adjusted based on the movement of the piston with respect to the housing.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a receiver, and more particularly to the receiver associated with a reductant tank.

BACKGROUND

A reductant tank associated with an aftertreatment system of an engine may be filled with a reductant using a pressurized fill system. A hose and a receiver may be positioned upstream of the reductant tank. In order to fill the reductant in the reductant tank, an external reductant source may be connected to the receiver. The hose and the receiver may introduce the reductant into the reductant tank.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,430,261 discloses a closure cover for tanks under internal pressure, with a cover body which can be fixed in a tank neck by rotation, and with a cover which is provided with a handle and is operatively connected to the cover body, and with a pressure control valve. A coupling device is arranged between the cover body and the cover and, during the positive pressure which prevails in the fuel tank during normal operation, releases the rotational connection between the cover body and the cover such that the fuel tank cannot be opened, and in that a pressure control valve is provided which opens when the positive pressure prevailing during normal operation is exceeded.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a receiver is disclosed. The receiver includes a housing. The housing defines a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are positioned at opposing ends of the housing. The receiver also includes a piston. The piston includes a head portion positioned at the fluid inlet. The piston also includes a rod portion. The rod portion extends from the head portion towards the fluid outlet. The receiver further includes a plate positioned within the housing and surrounding the rod portion. The plate includes through holes provided therein. The receiver includes a spring mounted on the rod portion. The spring is configured to bias a movement of the piston with respect to the housing. Further, the plate and the head portion of the piston define an adjustable volume therebetween. The volume is adjusted based on the movement of the piston with respect to the housing.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a system is provided. The system includes a reductant tank. The system also includes a receiver for the reductant tank. The receiver includes a housing. The housing defines a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are positioned at opposing ends of the housing. The receiver also includes a piston. The piston includes a head portion positioned at the fluid inlet. The piston also includes a rod portion. The rod portion extends from the head portion towards the fluid outlet. The receiver further includes a plate positioned within the housing and surrounding the rod portion. The plate includes through holes provided therein. The receiver includes a spring mounted on the rod portion. The spring is configured to bias a movement of the piston with respect to the housing. Further, the plate and the head portion of the piston define an adjustable volume therebetween. The volume is adjusted based on the movement of the piston with respect to the housing.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for accommodating an expansion in a volume of a fluid present in a receiver is disclosed. The method includes connecting a fluid supply to the receiver. The method also includes receiving the fluid into a fluid inlet of the receiver. The method further includes moving a piston of the receiver in an inward direction within a housing of the receiver. The method includes providing the fluid to a tank. The method also includes disconnecting the fluid supply. The method further includes moving the piston in an outward direction with respect to the housing during the expansion in the volume of the fluid present in the receiver.

Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary fill system for a reductant tank, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective cross-sectional views of a receiver for the reductant tank, during a fill operation;

FIG. 4 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the receiver, during an expansion of a reductant within the receiver;

FIG. 5 is a perspective cross sectional view of another configuration of the receiver, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for a method of accommodating an expansion in a volume of the reductant present in the receiver.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or the like parts. A reductant delivery and supply system is associated with an aftertreatment module of an engine (not shown). The aftertreatment module may be used to treat an exhaust stream which leaves the engine. The exhaust stream generally contains emissions which may include nitrogen oxides (NOx), unburned hydrocarbons, and particulate matter. The aftertreatment module is generally designed to reduce the content of NOx, unburned hydrocarbons, particulate matter, or other components of the emissions prior to the exhaust stream being released from the engine. The reductant delivery and supply system may include a reductant tank 100, a dosing module (not shown) and other components for supplying a reductant, such as Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF), to the aftertreatment module. Alternative liquid reductants may comprise ammonia or any other reducing agent.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary fill system 102 for the reductant tank 100, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The reductant tank 100 may be positioned inside a machine (not shown). The reductant tank 100 may be fluidly connected to the dosing module via a breather 104 for supplying the reductant into the exhaust stream of the engine. The reductant tank 100 may be made of a polymer, a metal or any other known material. Parameters related to the reductant tank 100, such as, shape, dimensions, material used and location of the reductant tank 100 may vary as per the system requirements.

A valve 106 may be attached to the reductant tank 100 for receiving the reductant into the reductant tank 100 from an external reductant supply. Based on a level of the reductant present within the reductant tank 100, the valve 106 is configured to control a reductant flow into the reductant tank 100. The valve 106 may be positioned on a top surface of the reductant tank 100. The valve 106 may be fluidly connected to a receiver 108 positioned on a frame of the machine. A portion of the receiver 108 is shown in FIG. 1. Further, a hose 110, a flexible pipe or any other filling line defining a conduit therein for the flow of the reductant into the valve 106 may be utilized to form the connection between the valve 106 and the receiver 108. The receiver 108 is configured to connect to the external reductant supply during a fill operation. The filling of the reductant from the external reductant supply into the receiver 108 will be explained in detail in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring to FIG. 2, the receiver 108 includes a housing 112. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 112 has a two piece design. The two piece design may be assembled using any known methods to form the housing 112, for example, welding. The housing 112 may have a hollow configuration. Further, the housing 112 defines a fluid inlet 114 and a fluid outlet 116. The fluid inlet 114 and the fluid outlet 116 are positioned at opposing ends of the housing 112. An interior space of the housing 112 is defined between the fluid inlet 114 and the fluid outlet 116 of the housing 112. The fluid inlet 114 of the housing 112 is configured to be coupled to the external reductant supply. A portion of a nozzle 120 of the external reductant supply is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Further, the fluid outlet 116 is fluidly coupled to the reductant tank 100 via the hose 110.

The structure of the receiver 108 will now be explained in detail. The receiver 108 includes a piston 122 slidably received within the housing 112. The piston 122 is configured to provide the flow of the reductant into the receiver 108, based on a movement of the piston 122. The fluid inlet 114 may include a sealing ring 124 provided within a groove of the housing 112. The sealing ring 124 may be configured to seal the fluid inlet 114 with respect to the housing 112 of the receiver 108. The piston 122 includes a head portion 126. The head portion 126 of the piston 122 is positioned at the fluid inlet 114 of the housing 112. The head portion 126 of the piston 122 is provided in sliding contact with an inner surface of a neck 118 of the fluid inlet 114. Accordingly, an outer diameter of the head portion 126 is lesser than the diameter of the neck 118 of the fluid inlet 114 so that the head portion 126 of the piston 122 may be received therein. The head portion 126 may have a circular cross section. The head portion 126 may have a centrally disposed hole therein. A depth of the hole is lesser than an overall thickness of the head portion 126.

The piston 122 also includes a rod portion 128. The rod portion 128 extends from the head portion 126 of the piston 122 towards the fluid outlet 116. In the illustrated embodiment, the rod portion 128 is provided as a separate unit from that of the head portion 126. A part of the rod portion 128 is received by the hole provided within the head portion 126. Alternatively, the head portion 126 and the rod portion 128 of the piston 122 may be manufactured as a single unit.

The receiver 108 includes a plate 130 fixedly provided within the housing 112 of the receiver 108. The plate 130 is configured to partially surround a length of the rod portion 128 of the piston 122. The plate 130 is configured to divide the interior space of the housing 112 into a first portion 132 and a second portion 134. The plate 130 may have a disc shaped configuration with through holes 136 provided therein. The through holes 136 are configured to allow fluid communication between the first and second portions 132, 134 of the housing 112. In the illustrated embodiment, the through holes 136 are kidney shaped. Alternatively, the through holes 136 may have a circular shape.

The plate 130 includes a projection 138 extending from a surface of the plate 130 towards the fluid inlet 114. The plate 130 also includes a centrally disposed through hole. A diameter of the through hole is slightly larger than an outer diameter of the rod portion 128, such that the rod portion 128 of the piston 122 may slide within the through hole.

A spring may be provided in connection with the piston 122, to bias a movement of the piston 122 within the housing 112 of the receiver 108. The plate 130 and the head portion 126 of the piston 122 define an adjustable volume of the housing 112 therebetween. The volume is adjusted based on an inward or an outward movement of the piston 122 with respect to the housing 112. For example, the volume may increase during the outward movement of the piston 122, and will be explained in detail later in this section.

In one embodiment, a first spring 140 is provided between the head portion 126 of the piston 122 and the plate 130, such that the first spring 140 partly surrounds the length of the rod portion 128 of the piston 122. In the illustrated embodiment, a portion of the first spring 140 is received into the head portion 126 of the piston 122. During the movement of the piston 122, the head portion 126 and the projection 138 extending from the plate 130 may serve as end stops for the first spring 140.

Further, a second spring 142 is mounted on the rod portion 128 of the piston 122 and in the second portion 134 of the receiver 108. Further, the receiver 108 includes a retention element 144 provided at an end of the rod portion 128 proximate to the fluid outlet 116. A stopper 146 or washer is provided in close contact with the retention element 144. A length of the second spring 142 is accommodated between the plate 130 and the stopper 146. During the movement of the piston 122, the plate 130 and the stopper 146 may serve as end stops for the second spring 142.

As shown in FIG. 2, during the fill operation, the nozzle 120 of the external reductant supply is connected to the fluid inlet 114 of the receiver 108. The nozzle 120 includes a piston 148 therein. The piston 148 of the nozzle 120 is brought in contact with the piston 122 of the receiver 108. As shown in FIG. 2, the piston 122 of the receiver 108 is biased in a closed position by the first spring 140.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the piston 148 of the nozzle 120 is configured to exert a force on the head portion 126 of the piston 122, against a spring force of the first spring 140. This in turn, causes the first spring 140 to compress against the projection 138 of the plate 130. The second spring 142 may expand between the plate 130 and the stopper 146. The piston 122 of the receiver 108 may then move in the inward direction with respect to the housing 112. The inward movement of the piston 122 may create a passage for the flow of the reductant into the receiver 108. The reductant may flow through the through holes 136, from the first portion 132 of the receiver 108 to the second portion 134 of the receiver 108. Further, the reductant may exit the receiver 108 through the fluid outlet 116. The reductant may then be introduced in to the reductant tank 100 via the hose 110 and the valve 106.

After completion of the fill operation of the reductant, the nozzle 120 is decoupled from the fluid inlet 114 of the receiver 108. The first spring 140 may expand, causing the piston 122 of the receiver 108 to move in the outward direction, thereby closing the fluid inlet 114. Also, the second spring 142 may compress when the piston 122 moves in the outward direction.

The reductant flowing through the aftertreatment module is susceptible to freezing. It should be noted that some quantity of the reductant may be present within the hose 110 and the receiver 108. In machines operating in a relatively cold environment, the reductant present within a receiving element may tend to freeze and expand. The expansion of the reductant may cause the receiving element to get damaged. In some situations, this may lead to a rupture of the receiving element.

The present disclosure relates to a provision for accommodating the expansion of the reductant present within the receiver 108. Referring now to FIG. 4, the expanding reductant in the receiver 108 applies a force on the second spring 142 mounted on the rod portion 128. The second spring 142 compresses on account of the applied force, thereby moving the piston 122 in the outward direction. The movement of the piston 122 in the outward direction causes an increase in a volume of the first portion 132 of the receiver 108. The increase in the volume may accommodate the expansion of the reductant therein.

It should be noted that the increase in the volume of the receiver 108 is based on dimensions of the fluid inlet 114 and the head portion 126 of the piston 122. In one example, the increase in the volume may depend on parameters, such as, the diameter and the depth of the neck 118 of the fluid inlet 114 and also on the thickness of the head portion 126. When the piston 122 moves in the outward direction, the head portion 126 of the piston 122 may extend out of the fluid inlet 114, thereby creating additional space or volume within the receiver 108. The increase in the volume may depend upon a cross-sectional area of the fluid inlet 114 and the depth of the neck 118 of the fluid inlet 114. Further, it is desirable that the thickness of the head portion 126 is adjusted such that during the movement of the piston 122 in the outward direction, the head portion 126 is not completely ejected from the fluid inlet 114.

FIG. 5 illustrates another design of the receiver 108′, according to an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure. The working of the receiver 108′ is similar to the working of the receiver 108 described above. The housing 112′ has a single piece. Further, the plate 130′ may additionally include a second projection 150, such that the second projection 150 extends from the plate 130′ towards the fluid outlet 116′. In the illustrated embodiment, the second spring 142′ is mounted within the first spring 140′. The second spring 142′ is mounted on the rod portion 128′, such that the second spring 142′ lies between an inner surface of the projection 138′ of the plate 130′ and an outer surface of the rod portion 128′ of the piston 122′. The housing 112, 112′, the plate 130, 130′ and the piston 122, 122′ disclosed herein may be made from any metal, polymer or ceramic known in the art. Also, dimensions of the receiver 108, 108′ may vary based on the type of application the receiver 108, 108′ is being used for.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Expansion of the reductant within the receiving element may cause rupturing of the receiving element. The receiver 108, 108′ disclosed herein includes the adjustable volume, wherein the movement of the piston 122, 122′ in the outward direction may cause the increase in the volume within the receiver 108, 108′ for accommodating the expansion of the reductant.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for a method 600 of accommodating the expansion in the volume of the reductant present in the receiver 108, 108′. At step 602, the external reductant supply is connected to the receiver 108, 108′. At step 604, the reductant is received into the fluid inlet 114 of the receiver 108, 108′. At step 606, the piston 122, 122′ moves in the inward direction within the housing 112, 112′ of the receiver 108, 108′. More particularly, the piston 148 of the nozzle 120 is configured to move the piston 122, 122′ of the receiver 108, 108′ in the inward direction against the spring force of the first spring 140, 140′.

At step 608, the reductant is provided to the reductant tank 100 via the fluid outlet 116, 116′ and the hose 110. At step 610, the external reductant supply is disconnected from the receiver 108, 108′. At step 612, the piston 122, 122′ moves in the outward direction with respect to the housing 112, 112′, during the expansion in the volume of the reductant present in the receiver 108, 108′.

It should be noted that the receiver 108, 108′disclosed herein may be used in applications other than aftertreatment module, to accommodate the expansion of any freezing fluid present within the receiver 108, 108′. For example, the receiver 108, 108′ may be used in agricultural, automotive, hydraulic applications, and the like.

While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof. 

what is claimed is:
 1. A receiver comprising: a housing defining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, wherein the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are positioned at opposing ends of the housing; a piston comprising: a head portion positioned at the fluid inlet; and a rod portion extending from the head portion towards the fluid outlet; a plate positioned within the housing and surrounding the rod portion, the plate including through holes provided therein; and a spring mounted on the rod portion, the spring configured to bias a movement of the piston with respect to the housing, wherein the plate and the head portion of the piston define an adjustable volume therebetween, such that the volume is adjusted based on the movement of the piston with respect to the housing.
 2. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the movement of the piston is an inward direction with respect to the housing during an inflow of a fluid into the receiver.
 3. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the movement of the piston is an outward direction with respect to the housing during an expansion of the fluid.
 4. The receiver of claim 1 further comprising: a stopper provided at one end of the rod portion.
 5. The receiver of claim 4, wherein the spring includes a first spring mounted between the head portion of the piston and the plate and a second spring mounted between the plate and the stopper.
 6. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the spring includes a first spring mounted between the head portion of the piston and the plate, and a second spring mounted within the first spring.
 7. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the adjustment in the volume is based on a diameter of a neck of the fluid inlet, a depth of the neck of the fluid inlet and a thickness of the head portion of the piston.
 8. The receiver of claim 1 further comprising: a sealing member provided between the piston and the fluid inlet.
 9. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the through holes are kidney shaped.
 10. A system comprising: a reductant tank; and a receiver for the reductant tank, the receiver comprising: a housing defining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, wherein the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are positioned at opposing ends of the housing; a piston comprising: a head portion positioned at the fluid inlet; and a rod portion extending from the head portion towards the fluid outlet; a plate positioned within the housing and surrounding the rod portion, the plate including through holes provided therein; and a spring mounted on the rod portion, the spring configured to bias a movement of the piston with respect to the housing, wherein the plate and the head portion of the piston define an adjustable volume therebetween, such that the volume is adjusted based on the movement of the piston with respect to the housing.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the fluid inlet is configured to receive a fluid supply from an external source.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the fluid outlet is connected to the reductant tank.
 13. The system of claim 10, wherein the spring includes a first spring mounted between the head portion of the piston and the plate, and a second spring mounted between the plate and a stopper.
 14. The system of claim 10, wherein the spring includes a first spring mounted between the head portion of the piston and the plate, and a second spring mounted within the first spring.
 15. The system of claim 10, wherein the adjustment in the volume is based on a diameter of a neck of the fluid inlet, a depth of the neck of the fluid inlet and a thickness of the head portion of the piston.
 16. A method for accommodating an expansion in a volume of a fluid present in a receiver, the method comprising: connecting a fluid supply to the receiver; receiving the fluid into a fluid inlet of the receiver; moving a piston of the receiver in an inward direction within a housing of the receiver; providing the fluid to a tank; disconnecting the fluid supply; and moving the piston in an outward direction with respect to the housing during the expansion in the volume of the fluid present in the receiver. 